Introduction
It must be said that pop-ups have a notorious reputation, often considered disruptive intrusions in the user experience. But if you think pop-ups are solely used for driving conversions, think again!
In fact, they should really be seen as multi-tasking tools, capable of being used flexibly to achieve various objectives: from enhancing user engagement to simplifying the navigation experience, as well as sharing key information.
We have decided to present you with 5 examples of pop-up usages that will change your perception of them, viewing them as true assets for your website!
1 - Marketing Pop-Up
First, let us explore the marketing pop-up, a classic on the web. This type of pop-up is often configured based on user behavior on a site: appearing either after a specific delay, according to the location where you are, the elements you click on, and so forth.
We took the example of the mute.design website, where the pop-up appears as you navigate through a certain section of the site. The goal? To encourage you to configure or purchase a product. Two more or less subtle actions that offer the consumer two levels of purchasing journeys:
- Configure a product: A more subtle path that allows the user to start visualizing and addressing some of their uncertainties.
- Purchase a product: A more direct path that prompts conversion with a single click.
2 - E-Commerce Pop-Up
Next, let’s discuss the e-commerce pop-up, another strategic application that goes beyond simple conversion. To illustrate this point, let’s look at the Digidop store and its collection of Figma Designer t-shirts. When an item is added to the cart, a pop-up appears, removing the need to navigate to a new page.
This mechanism presents several advantages:
- Continuous navigation: The pop-up allows you to continue browsing the site without interruption, giving you the feeling of not having left the current page while keeping an eye on your initial choices.
- Smooth purchasing experience: This method makes the shopping experience more seamless, reducing the number of clicks and unnecessary steps.
- Additional purchases: Since the user is not redirected to the final page, it not only encourages completing the current purchase but also considering additional additions.
In the end, this type of pop-up not only simplifies the purchasing process; it optimizes the user experience by creating a more intuitive and engaging journey. A significant advantage for any online store aiming to maximize its performance.
3 - Bento Pop-Up
Let’s continue with a less conventional yet equally strategic use of pop-ups: the bento pop-up. This example comes from the site of Elliot & Markus. When interacting with the "ecosystem" button, a pop-up opens, acting as a true bento of information.
This type of pop-up stands out for several reasons:
- Centralization of information: The pop-up acts as a hub, gathering various micro-information that is often disparate, such as social networks, key figures, or customer reviews.
- Targeted relevance: Instead of overwhelming the user with context-less information, this format allows for presenting pertinent and actionable data in a structured manner.
- Enhanced engagement: The bento pop-up not only presents information; it invites interaction, whether by clicking on a social link, exploring key figures, or reading reviews.
This innovative format demonstrates that pop-ups can be more than just a simple conversion tool. They can also serve as catalysts for engagement and information aggregators, thereby enriching the overall user experience.
4 - Sticky Pop-Up
Now, let's explore the "sticky" pop-up concept, an approach that, while subtle, remains highly effective. This is a strategy employed by the festival site Oltranza Festival, which has incorporated mini pop-ups to speed up and facilitate access to key information.
Key points to remember about this type of pop-up include:
- Constant accessibility: These "sticky" pop-ups are always visible, regardless of the page you are on. This eliminates the need to search for essential information such as festival dates or ticket links.
- Prioritization of information: By making this data immediately accessible, the site ensures that users can obtain the most important information without interrupting their browsing.
- Seamless user experience: The "sticky" pop-up integrates smoothly into the overall user experience, thus avoiding unexpected interruptions and allowing for continuous navigation.
This approach illustrates how pop-ups can be utilized for more than simple conversions or promotions. They can also serve as navigation tools, making the user experience more intuitive.
5 - Detailed Pop-Up
Let's discuss the case of Juno Studio, an agency that leverages pop-ups to showcase its client projects in detail. When you click on a project, a pop-up appears, offering a rich array of information without requiring you to navigate to a new page.
Key takeaways from this use of pop-ups include:
- Depth of information: Juno’s detailed pop-up allows users to delve into additional information without leaving the current page. This simplifies the user experience by providing precise and relevant context.
- Maintaining attention: The pop-up presentation helps retain the user's focus, avoiding distractions that can occur when switching from page to page.
- Optimizing the user journey: By eliminating the need to load new pages, the detailed pop-up promotes a smoother and faster navigation, contributing to an enhanced user experience.
Once again, here's an example illustrating how pop-ups can be used as vastly more than mere conversion generators, evolving into powerful engagement and information tools.
Bonus - Pop-Up with URL
In conclusion, we wanted to mention the case of a "fake" pop-up, taking the innovative example of DWARF. Unlike traditional pop-ups which have a negligible impact on organic SEO, this site successfully combines SEO effectiveness and user experience by assigning a unique URL to each pop-up.
Key takeaways include:
- SEO-UX synergy: DWARF’s site successfully assigns a specific URL to each pop-up. The content thus integrates into the site's internal linking structure and is indexed by search engines.
- Enhanced accessibility: The unique URL for each pop-up also allows for easier and more direct sharing of content, whether through social media or other communication channels.
- Maintained UX advantages: Despite this modification, pop-ups retain their role in optimizing user experience, providing a simple and effective way to present information without changing pages.
A good example of how to circumvent some of the usual limitations of pop-ups to create an experience that is both SEO-friendly and user-centered.
Conclusion
Pop-ups can therefore be so much more than just annoying windows that appear on your screen. When used creatively and thoughtfully, they can clearly enhance the user experience, drive purchases, centralize information, optimize conversion rates, and even be beneficial for SEO.
We hope these examples have inspired you to rethink the use of pop-ups on your own site!
Learn how to develop a modal pop-up in Webflow